If your website feels slow, installing a caching plugin is one of the fastest ways to improve performance.
In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to install and configure WP Fastest Cache on your WordPress website using recommended settings that work well for most small business sites. By the end of this tutorial, your website should load significantly faster, with less strain on your hosting server.
Caching is one of ten techniques covered in our complete guide to boosting page speed for your WordPress site.
Table of Contents
- What Is Caching (And Why It Matters)?
- Step 1: Install WP Fastest Cache
- Step 2: Recommended WP Fastest Cache Settings
- Step 3: Clear the Cache
- Does WP Fastest Cache Really Improve Speed?
- Quick Setup Checklist
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Caching (And Why It Matters)?
Normally, every time someone visits your website, WordPress runs PHP scripts, connects to the database, builds the page dynamically, and sends it to the visitor. This happens from scratch on every single page load.
A caching plugin creates a static version of your pages and serves that instead. The result is faster load times, reduced server usage, better Google PageSpeed scores, and a smoother experience for your visitors.
For most small business websites, caching alone can cut load times by 30–60% with almost no technical effort.
Step 1: Install WP Fastest Cache
Follow the steps below to install the WP Fastest Cache plugin from the WordPress plugin directory:
- Go to the Plugins → Add New
- In the search field enter “WP Fastest Cache”
- Click Install Now and wait
- When the Activate button appears, click it
Step 2: Recommended WP Fastest Cache Settings
Once the plugin is installed, click the WP Fastest Cache tab in your dashboard menu and enable the following settings:
- Cache System – Turns caching on
- Preload – Automatically generates cache
- Logged-in Users – Enable only if you don’t have a membership site
- Mobile – Creates cache for mobile users
- Gzip – Compresses files for faster delivery
- Browser Caching – Stores static files in visitors’ browsers
Once you’ve enabled these settings, click the Submit button at the bottom of the page to save.
Important: If your site looks broken or styles stop loading after saving, disable the Combine CSS and Combine JS options, these can conflict with some themes and plugins. All other settings above are safe for most sites.
Step 3: Clear the Cache
Whenever you update your website (new content, design changes, plugin updates) you should clear the cache so visitors see the latest version.
To manually clear it:
- Hover over the admin bar at the top of your screen
- Click Clear All Cache
- Refresh your page
Does WP Fastest Cache Really Improve Speed?
Yes, significantly. When configured correctly, it reduces server processing time, lowers Time to First Byte (TTFB), and improves your scores in tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. For most small business websites, caching alone can cut load times by 30–60%.
For the biggest combined impact, pair it with proper image compression. Our guide on how to compress images in WordPress shows how to reduce file sizes by up to 80% without losing quality.
Quick Setup Checklist
If you just want the essentials:
- Install and activate the plugin
- Enable Cache System
- Enable Gzip
- Enable Browser Caching
- Enable Preload
- Enable Mobile
- Click Submit
- Clear Cache
Done. Your website is now significantly optimized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP Fastest Cache free?
Yes. WP Fastest Cache has a free version that covers all the essential settings described in this guide, including caching, Gzip, and browser caching. A premium version is available with additional features like image optimisation and cache timeout rules, but the free version is sufficient for most small business sites.
Does WP Fastest Cache work with WooCommerce?
Yes, but with some caveats. Cart, checkout, and account pages should be excluded from caching to avoid displaying outdated content to logged-in customers. WP Fastest Cache handles this automatically for standard WooCommerce pages, but it’s worth checking your exclusion rules after setup.
What’s the difference between WP Fastest Cache free and premium?
The free version covers the core caching features that make the biggest difference to load times. The premium version adds image optimisation, cache timeout scheduling, and CDN support. For most small business websites, the free version is all you need.
Will WP Fastest Cache break my website?
It shouldn’t, but if your site looks broken after enabling it (missing styles, layout issues) the most common cause is the Combine CSS or Combine JS options conflicting with your theme or another plugin. Disable those two options first and the issue usually resolves immediately.
How often should I clear the cache?
You should clear the cache any time you make changes to your website — new posts, page edits, plugin updates, or theme changes. WP Fastest Cache can also be configured to clear automatically at set intervals using the cache timeout feature in the premium version.
Does caching affect SEO?
Yes, positively. Page speed is a confirmed Google ranking factor. A faster website improves your Core Web Vitals scores — particularly Time to First Byte (TTFB) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) — which directly affect how Google assesses and ranks your pages.
